Meggers on the Move: Boats

Lack of sleep, surplus of whales.

That sums up a majority of the past few weeks here on the Big Island for the boat crew. It's a beautiful thing. When everyone around you is working just as hard as you are on just as little amount of rest it seems to make it easier to work through the long day. I've been whistling "The Dock of the Bay" by Otis Redding for three days straight now.

On top of these long days, there were also preparations being made for a wonderful little boy to come into the OS boat crew Ohana. One of the captains, who is a California native, is going to be a daddy in about two months. I deemed it completely necessary as the hippy auntie to get this little boy his first tie dye, or rather have Skyla send him his first tie dye onesie...straight outta Santa Cruz. It was a hit. Mom loved it, dad hated it (but secretly loved it, I could see it in his eyes). This kid is already so cool, lemme tell ya. Thanks Sulla. It's very interesting to see the excitement and fear in their eyes as the due date draws near, both being brand new parents. And yet, it's incredibly unnerving to see a tough captain so freaked out at the thought of this crying, pooping little wonder coming into the world at the beginning of April.

Ah life.

As the rookie on board, there has been no wasted time in making sure I make a fool of myself (within reasonable measure), but I'm a good sport about it and learn fast. I have been studying up on all things whale over the past couple of months to prepare for the time when I will become the Marine Naturalist on the catamarans as we take people out to sea. This includes sitting on top of the cabin, on the boom, with a microphone, spouting out all kinds of facts about humpback whales for about 2 hours. I know I can talk a lot, I know this, but 2 hours straight is incredibly hard to do.

On a different note, I have had the pleasure of working with many school kids over the past week. I was fortunate enough to have my first "whale talk" with a group of middle schoolers and then a group of second graders a few days later. I got them ALL to speak whale...Dori-style. Picture 40 school kids yelling out to these whales using their best whale impressions. I was in heaven. The whales really respond to young voices. It has to do with their decibel ranges, so needless to say it is amazing to watch those whales actually turn to check us out when there is a group of kids on board yelling, "Heeeeeerrrrrrrreeeeeeee wwwwwwhhhaaallllleeeeesssssss!"

I love my job.

Valentines Day came and went. I worked for most of it and had the pleasure of being surrounded by happy couples as they sailed into the sunset. I'm not bitter. Chocolates and beers (in order of importance) after with my single coworkers as we traded stories of past loves and how amazing our jobs are. Crew bonding. *By the way, I hope that everyone had a wonderful day with at least some chocolate involved regardless of relationship status, because chocolate is important.

This week was full of new experiences for me. 12 hours straight on a boat (which is new for me), longer sails down to Kona (equivalent of heading from SC to Monterey across the bay), no longer being treated as a newbie- having to hold my own with all the guys...this one has been interesting. There are certain novelties that come with being a female in an area of work where the majority of crew are male. There are also an increasingly large amount of hardships that come with this as well. I have learned and so has the crew that, there may only be two female crew members on the boats, but we can hold our own (Damn it!) and are valuable members on the team. I am grateful for the patience that has been given to me as a new member on the crew, who also happens to be a girl, but I also realize that this patience is not going to be there forever, which makes me work that much harder to make sure I learn everything quickly and efficiently. This team is absolutely incredible and I cannot picture working with a more wonderful group of individuals.

I'm lucky to have them.

I have discovered in the world of climbing your fingers and toes get worked. Your muscles ache and your back gets burnt. There are times when you know you should have drank more water or at least eaten a more decent breakfast. There are constantly new cuts, bruises and gashes that turn up and if anything they just irritate you because they bleed or cause you to move slower. It is the same on the boats. Digging coral out of your feet, slicing fingers and gaining new bruises regularly...not from being klutzy (give me some credit here), but from the nature of the environment. You push through it because it is something you love. You work hard to play hard and put up with the pains because you know it's worth it.

No samsara, no nirvana.

My body may need a chiropractor soon or at least a massage (any volunteers?) and some good stretching, but I am loving every second.

Spam count still zero, going on 3 1/2 months.

Bed before 8, turning into an old lady,

-M.